Colorado accepts Pac-10 invite

The Pacific-10 Conference said Thursday that Colorado has accepted a bid to become the league’s 11th member, leaving the Big 12 with 10 members as of this writing.

“The University of Colorado is a great fit for the conference, both academically and athletically, and we are incredibly excited to welcome Colorado to the Pac-10,” said Larry Scott, the Pac-10 commissioner.

Nebraska is expected to announce on Friday that is has accepted a bid to join the Big Ten, further dissolving the Big 12. Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are expected to join the Pac-10, a well, in forming a south division with Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State.

“The University of Colorado is a perfect match — academically and athletically — with the Pac-10,” Colorado president Bruce Benson said. “Our achievements and aspirations match those of the universities in the conference and we look forward to a productive relationship.”

There is an outside chance the likes of A&M and OU could also join the Southeastern Conference. As of now, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Missouri are getting left out of affiliation with a prominent conference.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe issued this statement Thursday: “The Big 12 Conference has been informed that the University of Colorado has accepted an invitation to join the Pacific-10 Conference. I continue to work through the process that was agreed upon last week by our Board of Directors to address membership issues, and am working tirelessly towards the long-term viability of the Big 12.”